Abstract
This study examines how narrative value embedded in abandoned heritage buildings can be translated into operational conditions that enable reintegration within small historic cities. Using Al-Salt, Jordan, as a case study, the research investigates the Narrative–Operational Gap, understood as the misalignment between recognized cultural and memory value and limited operational and institutional activation. Although many heritage buildings remain preserved, they persist as underutilized urban elements due to the absence of structured mechanisms that translate meaning into use.The study adopts a mixed-method approach combining conceptual synthesis, a purposive stakeholder survey (n = 50), and layered architectural case study analysis. The survey results indicate strong recognition of narrative and experiential value, alongside lower confidence in operational readiness and institutional capacity. The case study analysis demonstrates that the primary constraint lies not in material condition or narrative presence, but in processes through which narrative value is translated into experiential and operational structures.In response, the study develops a Hybrid Narrative–Operational Adaptive Reuse Framework linking narrative interpretation, experiential mediation, spatial structuring, and operational activation. The study concludes that bridging the Narrative–Operational Gap requires structured translation of narrative value into operational conditions, rather than reliance on symbolic or material preservation alone.